This single horn was made by V. F. Červený & Fils, Königgräts
(Hrádec Kralové), Bohemia, ca. 1905. It was imported and sold by Louis
Viták of Chicago, Illinois. This was probably a stencil horn that was made for
export and not engraved at the factory with the typical elaborate Červený
label. (See another
Červený horn in this collection.) Instead, the simple label on the bell
(right) was probably added by the importer, Viták. The address at 204 Wabash
Avenue dates this horn and its companion
"Concert Horn" to
between 1902 and 1905.

The horn has the serial number 20180 stamped on the ferrule below the third valve
(right). It is only 3 away from the corresponding number on its companion
concert horn, No.036
in this collection.

The valve set (bottom left photo) retains the spring tension adjustment thumbscrews
designed by Jaroslav Červený in 1873 but with the rotors mounted vertically in the usual
way instead of horizontally as on earlier Červený models. The number
1438 stamped on the underside of the valve key saddle is apparently a
part number. The same valve set and number appear on the companion
concert horn. This is probably a
result of Červenýs adoption as early as 1843 of American manufacturing methods including
the use of standardized parts.

The valve slides are marked to be extended for use with an E♭ terminal crook
(bottom right photo).

References

Waterhouse, William, The New Langwill Index of Wind Instrument Makers and Inventors, pub.Tony Bingham, London 1993